Will the 6.00 per qt. of the basic motor oil ever drop to reflect the huge price drop of a barrel of crude?
Think not since cars are going much longer between oil changes and it's just the companies way to keep the profit up.
Just ridiculous to be paying that much for regular non high performance oil!

I doubt the base is a major factor in the price you're paying for engine oil.
The additives and overhead (research/increasing standards) I would guess to be driving costs.
The extended intervals does require better oils as well.
You can save some money by buying bulk 5Gal pails or 55gal drums if you prefer.

The price of a qt always used to be pretty much the same as a gallon of gas since the 60's, always going up, till recently with the crude price going substantially lower.
I think it's just charging what the market will bear, lack of competition & collusion.
Supermarket's off brand oil has been about the same as gasoline, they may price the stuff at cost plus a percentage.

allencr267 wrote:The price of a qt always used to be pretty much the same as a gallon of gas since the 60's, always going up, till recently with the crude price going substantially lower.
I think it's just charging what the market will bear, lack of competition & collusion.
Supermarket's off brand oil has been about the same as gasoline, they may price the stuff at cost plus a percentage.

Check the API rating on that off brand oil. Any time I see oil retail for under $3/quart, it's SB rated.

Just ridiculous to be paying that much for regular non high performance oil!

ALL modern API oils are "high performance oils" relative to what was available 15 years ago. GDI, Turbos, etc are making it necessary to develop higher performing motor oils for even the Soccer Mom SUV.